Community finance is a term used to describe a means of obtaining capital for individuals, non-profit organisations and social enterprises, enabling them to achieve their goals.

The aim is for communities and individuals to help each other to find innovative financial solutions in situations where traditional financial options may be inaccessible or inappropriate.

In this section you will find current news, resources and other information on the topic of community finance.

Below are a number of useful websites you can visit to find out more about community finance solutions.

No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS)

NILS is a micro-finance scheme for people on low income. Small loans are available for household goods such as a fridge or washing machine.

StepUP loans

StepUP is an extension of the NILS scheme. It provides an actual bank loan at a discounted interest rate for people on low income.

AddsUP Matched Savings Plan

The AddsUP saving scheme further is available to people who have successfully complete either the NILS or Step Up scheme. The scheme provides up to dollar for dollar matching of saving.

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New grants program opens to boost Neighbourhood Centres

Wed, 09/05/2018 - 11:59am
Neighbourhood Centres across Queensland can share in $550,000 of Palaszczuk Government funding for one-off grants to run events, deliver projects, or to purchase equipment to help make their communities thrive. Minister for Communities Coralee O'Rourke today (9 May) announced that the new Thriving...
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Water for Life community grants program

Tue, 24/04/2018 - 9:03am
Queensland Government media release Funding of up to $10,000 is available to community groups interested in protecting our region’s drinking water catchments, as part of the annual Water for Life community grants program. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Dr Anthony Lynham said...
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Funding to commemorate 10 years since Stolen Generations apology

Thu, 26/10/2017 - 9:23am
The Healing Foundation is offering grants to assist communities to mark 10 years since the Stolen Generations apology. On 13 February 2018 it will be a decade since the national apology to the Stolen Generations and Indigenous people of Australia. The Healing Foundation will be commemorating the...
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Queensland Community Recovery Forum 2017

Thu, 28/09/2017 - 2:17pm
Building disaster resilience is everyone’s responsibility and we all have a role to play in helping our communities cope with and recover from natural disaster. ‘All of this can be a challenge because you can’t manage what you can’t measure’ The Department of Communities, Child Safety and...
Read more about Queensland Community Recovery Forum 2017
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Support services boosted to keep Toowoomba families safely together

Wed, 20/09/2017 - 2:00pm
Queensland Government media release Vulnerable families in Toowoomba will now have access to new intensive and specialist support services to help keep their children safely at home and out of the child protection system. Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman today visited Uniting Care Community,...
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Funding provides assistance for Gold Coast families

Thu, 31/08/2017 - 7:00am
Queensland Government media release The Palaszczuk Government is investing in family support services in Nerang and the surrounding areas. Through ongoing funding to Act for Kids and the Nerang Neighbourhood Centre families across the region are receiving the support they need. Act for Kids can get...
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Dignity First funds care packs for Central Queenslanders

Wed, 30/08/2017 - 8:34am
Queensland Government media release Central Queenslanders experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic and family violence will receive a little extra care thanks to funding from the Palaszczuk Government’s Dignity First Fund. Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said Clermont...
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White Balloon Day 2017

Fri, 25/08/2017 - 7:00am
White Balloon Day, 8 September, is Australia's largest campaign dedicated to preventing child sexual assault. Now in its 21st year, White Balloon Day unites communities, businesses, schools and organisations annually to break the silence on child sexual assault and make a commitment to protecting...
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Funding for multicultural events in 2018

Thu, 10/08/2017 - 1:00pm
Applications are closing soon for the 2017-18 Celebrating Multicultural Queensland Events Grants. If you are a not‑for‑profit or charitable organisation and are planning to host an event in 2018 that will celebrate and promote intercultural connections, you have until 29 August 2017 to apply for...
Read more about Funding for multicultural events in 2018
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Dignity First helps Suns assist Gold Coast youth

Mon, 07/08/2017 - 7:00am
Queensland Government media release The Gold Coast Suns have been announced as the first recipient of the second round of the Palaszczuk Government’s $2.5 million Dignity First Fund, with a grant of $57,500 to establish a youth well-being and leadership program. Announcing the grant this morning at...
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oneplace community services directory

Are you looking for support in Queensland, or trying to find a service that meets your needs? Now you can search oneplace , the service directory hosted by the Queensland Family and Child Commission. oneplace is an easily accessible directory of community services to help Queensland families to get...
Read more about oneplace community services directory

Financial Counsellors' Association of Queensland

The Financial Counsellors' Association of Queensland is the peak professional body representing the membership of 74 Financial Counsellors throughout inner city, suburban and regional Queensland. The FCAQ is also a not for profit organisation whose members provide a fee and accessible financial...
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Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA)

Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA) has been established to provide tailored finance to social enterprises on commercial terms together with targeted business advice and support. Fundamental to this is a commitment to helping clients build their capacity to manage debt and become financially...
Read more about Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA)

Foresters Community Finance

Foresters Community Finance is a non-profit organisation that has been delivering community finance and social investment products in Australia for the past 20 years. It is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI). CDFI’s are socially focused organisations that use community finance and...
Read more about Foresters Community Finance

Ourcommunity Community Financial Centre

The Community Financial Centre has been established by Our Community to give not-for-profit organisations of all types and sizes access to tools and resources to help improve their financial management, and better and more cost effective banking services. The site covers managing money,...
Read more about Ourcommunity Community Financial Centre

Inviting Investment in Social Enterprise

The RE Ross Trust published this report in 2007: Inviting Investment in Social Enterprise: A Prospectus Framework for the Social Sector The Trust acknowledges that most not-for-profit organisations must seek their funding from a diverse range of sources - government and philanthropic grants,...
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Building financial sustainability in your organisation

This resource has been developed by Knode and Foresters to support boards and service managers assess their financial position and strategically build their organistion's financial sustainability. Building financial sustainability in your organistions contains tools to help you: Assess where your...
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Outcomes based funding approaches

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 2:39pm
Author: 
Angela Massey, Queensland Council of Social Service

Social impact bonds (SIBs) are an innovative approach to funding that pay a return based on the achievement of agreed social outcomes. Private investors provide capital to pay for program delivery and receive a rate of investment return that is linked to the success of the program, as measured...

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Supporting young Indigenous Australians to achieve their dream of a future in healthcare

Fri, 18/08/2017 - 10:44am
Author: 
House Call Doctor

Research shows Indigenous health professionals account for only 0.3% of the national healthcare workforce.

This severe underrepresentation has a number of repercussions for the industry and Indigenous members of the community seeking culturally appropriate healthcare.

“The...

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The balance between people and money

Access to capital is key to the future of community organisations

Tue, 16/09/2014 - 4:54pm
Author: 
Alyce Maschio, Foresters Community Finance

For social enterprises and non-profit organisations, access to capital means they can build financial independence, own assets, leverage greater community benefits, and develop capacity to build a sustainable long-term future.

As the funding landscape changes and major sector...

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